JEFFERSON CITY, MO – Missouri’s campaign, “Tobacco is
Changing,” launched this week to educate parents
about the different candy-flavored tobacco products tempting kids into
addiction. It is also the reality of the tobacco landscape – especially when it
comes to e-cigarettes.
“Remember how shocked you were when you first heard about
JUUL, the disposable e-cigarette that looks like a flash drive? Well, that’s a
drop in the bucket compared to the many shapes that e-cigarettes now take,
including smart watches, makeup compacts – they’re even hidden in hoodies
and
backpacks,” said Valerie Howard who leads Missouri’s Tobacco
Prevention and Control program within the Department of Health and Senior
Services (DHSS). “When parents familiarize themselves with these new products,
they will know what to look for.”
E-cigarettes continue to be the tobacco product of choice
for teens. The 2021 Missouri Youth Risk Behavioral Survey shows that 40 percent
of Missouri’s high school students have tried an e-cigarette, and 19 percent,
or close to one in five, have used an e-cigarette in the last 30 days. There
are currently more high school students in Missouri using e-cigarettes than
adults who smoke (17 percent).
Parents can view the tobacco products at TobaccoIsChangingMO.org. Site visitors will find photos of tobacco products
ranging from different varieties of e-cigarettes, little cigars and cigarillos,
menthol tobacco products, and even new smokeless tobacco products like
toothpicks. In addition, parents can get information on tobacco industry
tactics like flavors and packaging, how to talk to their child about this
sometimes difficult topic and actions they can take to reduce youth tobacco use
and exposure.
In addition to the Comprehensive Cancer Control Program
within DHSS, the department’s Tobacco Prevention and Control Program has
partnered with the Missouri Academy of Family Physicians, Missouri American
Academy of Pediatrics, Missouri Association of Rural Educators, Missouri
Departments of Elementary and Secondary Education, Mental Health, Public Safety
and Social Services, Missouri Hospital Association, Missouri Parents as
Teachers Association, Missouri School Boards Association and Tobacco Free
Missouri on this campaign to help educate Missouri parents about youth
e-cigarette and other tobacco product use.
The Tobacco is
Changing site includes a media
toolkit with fact sheets, social
media content and videos for communities and partners to use in their own
communication efforts.
For more information about the Tobacco Is Changing campaign, visit TobaccoIsChangingMO.org. Free help for
teens to quit using e-cigarettes is available by texting VAPEFREEMO to 873873
or at YouCanQuit.org.